Yankees' Park will go free rather than play in minors

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's first Major League Baseball player Park Chan-ho said he will become a free agent rather than play in the minors after the New York Yankees designated him for assignment.

The 37-year-old pitcher was dropped minutes before the July 31 non-waiver deadline to make way for the newly acquired Kerry Wood, Korea's Yonhap news reported on Monday.

"I was informed just three minutes before the deadline," he told his website (www.chanhopark61.com). "If there is no interest I will be a free agent and contact teams like three years ago."